Brush



Fab. 1935- I I L. R. SCHUMANN 1,990,619

BRUSH Filed Oct. 17, 1954 10 JNVENTOR. LHWRENBEREEHL/MHNN BY H ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 12, 1935 PATENT OFFICE BRUSH Lawrence R. Schumann,

Brcoklyn, N. Y., assignor to Star Brush Manufacturing Co. Inc., Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 17, 1934, Serial No. 748,725

4 Claims.

My present invention relates to improvements in paint brushes, and resides principally in the provision of means to protect the handle against the flow ,of paint thereon from the bristles.

' I am aware that numerous auxiliary devices, that is, trough-like separate attachments, have been provided and proposed for use in connection with paint brushes between the bristles and the handle to catch surplus paint which flows down from the bristles especially when painting overhead. However, such devices are either difficult of attachment to the brush, are subjected to deteriorating influences which other parts of the brush are not subjected to, and/or are relatively expensive. v p

. With the foregoing in mind, the principal general object of myinvention resides in the provision of means to protect the handles of paint brushes from the free flow of paint thereon from the bristles, such means being formed as a part of the brush, preferably the usual metal ferrule which surrounds the base of the bristles and the top of the handle to unite or join the bristles and handle. 7

More specifically the invention resides in the provision of a metal ferrule or the equivalent *forming a part of the brush, and provided with a series or succession of annular or peripheral distinct ridges or ledges adapted to catch the surplus paint and prevent or retard the flow of the paint onto the handle of the brush during a painting operation.

All of the objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent and will be specifically pointed out during the course of the following detailed description of the accompanying drawing, in which n i Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a paint brush provided'with one form of drip guard or ferrule embodying my invention; i Fig. 2' is a fragmentary side same brush;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a brush provided elevation of the with a drip guard or .ferrule generally similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 but showing a slight modification in the construction thereof;

Fig. 4 isa transverse vertical central sectional view through the drip guard embodied in the brush of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of the guard shown in Fig. 3; 7

Figs. 6 and 7 are views similar to Figs. 4 and 5 respectively showing modifications in the respective structures of Figs. 1 and 3.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the letter B designates a group or cluster of bristles which at their lower ends are bound or set in any usual manner to hold them together, and the letter H designates the handle of the brush. In the usual construction of brush, the handle and the bristles are united by a ferrule or sheet metal band of relatively smooth character, and it is across the outer smooth surface of such ferrules that surplus paintruns from the bristles onto the handle especially when painting overhead.

"According to my present invention, 1 construct the drip guard or ferrule designated generally by the letter F in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 from sheet metal. If the brush is square in cross section then of course the ferrule would'be square in cross section; if the brush be oblong in cross section then of course the ferrule would be the same, etc., according to the shape of the base of the bristles and upper end of the handle. The ferrules at their tops are formed with collars 8 which snugly surround the bristles, and immediately beneath the collars the ferrules are bent out to provide ledges or ridges 9 extending all the way around the base of the bristles. The ferrules are then bent inwardly and downwardly as at 10 to form troughs, and then outwardly again to form another ridge or ledge 9. There may be as many of these ledges or ridges and troughs as desired, according to the length of the ferrules and the extent or dimensions of the ridges. Each of the ledges or ridges is independent of and spaced from the succeeding'one by the troughs. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1, there are seven of the ledges or ridges 9, so that the completed ferrule comprises a corrugated outer surface with the seven ridges having substantially straight. or flat top surfaces and a corresponding number of troughs formed therebetween by inclined walls 10. The lower ends of the ferrules 11 snugly surround the tops of the handles and may be attached thereto in the usual manner, as by means of tacks 12. 7

Whereas in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the ferrules have substantially their entire length formed with the ledges or ridges 9, 'in Figs. 3 and 5, I have shown a 'modification wherein there are only three of the ridges or ledges at the top of the ferrule and one at the bottom, designated by the numeral 9' with a substantial space or smooth area 13 between the upper and lower ridges. v The extent or length of the areas 13 may be varied, and the same when provided are for the purpose principally of receiving a trade-mark or other indicia. Except for the provision of the smooth area 13,

the brush of Figs. 3 and 5 is substantially identical with the brush of Figs. 1, 2 and 4, insofar as the construction or nature of the ridges or ledges is concerned.

In Fig. 2, the line 14 designates the seamed joint where the ends of the ferrule are brought together at the side of the brush. However, the ferrules may be made from a purely tubular strip of metal, and it is not necessary in such cases to provide the seamed joints.

In Fig. 6, there is shown another modification of the invention, and wherein the tops of ledges 15 which correspond to the ledges 9 of Figs. 1, 2 and 4, taper or slant slightly downwardly instead of being at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the handle. In Fig. 7, the ferrule which embodies the features of the form shown in Fig. 3, also has the ridges or ledges 15' sloping or slanting slightly downwardly, as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 6.

Under all of the above described forms of the invention, when the brush is in use, any surplus paint running from the bristles toward the handle first engages the top of the uppermost ledge or ridge and spreads out thereon. If the quantity of paint on the uppermost ridge or ledge is or becomes in excess of the capacity of the ledge to hold the paint, then the paint runs down to the top of the second ledge or ridge and spreads out thereon, and so on. In actual practice, I have found that the brush may be used for a very long time with a drip guard or paint flow retarding means above described without paint getting on the handle. Furthermore, the retarding means or guard is provided as a part of the brush at the time of manufacture to join the bristles and handle, instead as of a separate attachment, so that the cost is not noticeably increased.

It should be obvious from the foregoing, that the invention provides an effective drip guard or paint flow retarding means which can be easily and cheaply manufactured and applied to the brushes at the time of manufacture with no greater expense or trouble than required in applying the ordinary smooth ferrules which hold the bristles and handles together.

It should also be obvious that there may be any number of the ridges or ledges which retard or prevent the flow of the paint down to the handle under all forms of the invention shown and described. For instance, although the drawing shows in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and.6, seven of the ridges or ledge-s, there may be more or less on the completely corrugated ferrules of the type shown in the said figures; and although in Figs. 3, 5 and 7 there are shown three ridges or ledges adjacent the top of the ferrule and one adjacent the bottom, there may be various other arrangements of the ledges or ridges to provide the smooth area. For instance, there may be two at the top and two at the bottom, or three at the top and two at the bottom, and so on.

I claim:

1. A paint brush including a cluster of bristles bound together at one end, and a handle having one end alined with the bristles and located adjacent said one end of the bristles, a ferrule surrounding said ends of the bristles and handle joining the same together, said ferrule comprising a sheet metal member of tubular form corresponding in cross-sectional shape to the said ends of the bristles and handle and having formed therearound from substantially one end of the ferrule to the other independent ridges and troughs, said ridges projecting laterally outward beyond the said'bound end of the bristles and being distinctly separated by the troughs to retard the flow of excess paint from the bristles to the handle, and the portions of said ridges toward the bristles being arranged substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the handle to present substantially fiat surfaces.

2. A guard or paint retarding means for the handles of paint brushes comprising a sheet metal member to surround the top of the handle and the base of the bristles of the brush and having its exterior surfaces corrugated to form a plurality of successive laterally projecting ridges distinctly separated from each other by troughs, said ridges and troughs extending entirely around the top of the handle and base of the bristles when applied to the brush, and the portions of said ridges toward the bristles being arranged substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the handle to present substantially fiat surfaces.

3. A paint brush including a cluster of bristles bound together at one end and a handle having one end located adjacent said bound end of the bristles, a ferrule surrounding said ends of the bristles and handle joining the same together, said ferrule comprising a sheet metal member of tubular form having formed therearound a plurality of non-communicating ridges and troughs, i i

the portions or faces of said ridges toward the bristles being substantially flat and projecting outwardly at an angle transverse to the longi tudinal axis of the brush to form distinct ledges, and substantially straight walls inclined from the outer edge of one ledge to the inner edge of the next ledge forming with said ledges a corrugated surface around the ferrule to retard the flow of paint from the bristles to the handle.

4. A paint brush including a cluster of bristles bound together at one end and a handle having one end located adjacent said bound end of the bristles, said bound end of the bristles and end of the handle being of substantially rectangular shape in cross section, a ferrule surrounding said ends of the bristles and handle joining the same together, said ferrule corresponding in cross sectional shape substantially to the cross sectional shape of the said ends of the bristles and handle and comprising a sheet metal member having formed therearound a plurality of non-com municating ridges and troughs, the portions or faces of said ridges toward the bristles being substantially flat and projecting outwardly at an angle transverse to the longitudinal 'axis of the brush to form distinct ledges, and substantially straight walls inclined from the outer edge of one ledge to the inner edge of the next ledge forming with said ledges a corrugated surface around the ferrule to retard the flow of paint from the bristles to the handle.

LAWRENCE R. SCHUMANN. 

